Budget-Friendly Attractions
And if your budget is zero, we’ve got the list for you!
DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA
1. American Swedish Historical Museum
1900 Pattison Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19145
(215) 389-1776
www.americanswedish.org
Adults: $6.00
Students & Children (12-18 years old): $5.00
Children under 12: Free
Dedicated to preserving and promoting contributions of Swedes and Swedish Americans to the United States, the museum houses 12 permanent galleries and a library. Special exhibitions in 2010 include: Printscapes: Impressions of Nature by Rachelle Puryear and Lars Nyberg (part of the city-wide Philigrafika 2010 Arts Festival, January - May 2, 2010); Nudes by Anders Zor (April 7- Spring 2010); and Material Matters: Samples from the Textile Collection (throughout 2010).
2. Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent
15 South 7th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215.685.4830 voice
www.philadelphiahistory.org
Adults: $5.00
Students & Children (under 12): $3.00
*Note: the museum is currently closed for renovations; doors will re-open in fall 2010.
The Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent (formerly known as the Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia) is the gateway to city history. Founded 70 years ago as the history museum of the City of Philadelphia, students, families, metropolitan residents, national and international visitors discover the city and gain insight into contemporary urban life through exhibitions and programs.
3. Betsy Ross House
239 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215.686.1252
www.betsyrosshouse.org
Adults: $3.00
Students: $2.00
Built more than 250 years ago, the building now known as The Betsy Ross House was home to not just Betsy, but to dozens of artisans and shopkeepers over the years before it was opened to the public as a museum in 1937. Today, the Betsy Ross House is furnished in the period in which Betsy Ross' descendents said she lived. In the only interpretation of an 18th century upholstery shop in the country visitors can view seven period rooms, including a kitchen, bedrooms, and parlor. Highlights of the collection include Betsy Ross' walnut chest-on-chest, her Chippendale and Sheraton sidechairs, eyeglasses, her quilted petticoat, and her Bible.
4. Elfreth’s Alley Museum
126 Elfreth's Alley
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 574-0560
www.elfrethsalley.org
Adults: $5.00
Students & Children (6-18 years old): $1.00
Children under 6: Free
Located in the heart of Old City Philadelphia, the block-long Elfreth's Alley opened in 1702 when it connected two blacksmiths' shops with Second Street, one of the growing colony's busiest thoroughfares. A stroll down the oldest, continuously inhabited street in the country is free, but for a small price step inside the Elfreth's Alley Museum, which tells several unique stories about early Philadelphia.
The Museum is located in 124 and 126 Elfreth's Alley. Guided tours begin in the gift shop (number 124), and tell the amazing story of two dressmakers whose sewing business in house 126 reveals the lives of early American women, workers, and the transformations that came with the age of factories and industry.
5. Franklin Square
200 N 6th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 629-4026
www.historicphiladelphia.org
Carousel>
Adults: $3.00
Children (ages 3-12): $2.00
Mini-Golf>
Adults: $8.00
Children (ages 3-12): $6.00
Franklin Square is one of Philadelphia’s five original squares - and the only one dedicated just to fun! Kids love the Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel, Philadelphia-themed Mini Golf, two playgrounds, and more. The newest addition to Franklin Square, SquareBurger, has created quite a buzz with its menu of hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, salad, and a variety of frozen treats and drinks, all by Philadelphia restaurateur- Stephen Starr.
6. Johnson House Historic Site
6306 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 438-1768
www.johnsonhouse.org
Adults: $5.00
Children (under 12): $3.00
Built in 1768 for John Johnson, this Quaker family home saw three generations work to abolish slavery and improve living conditions for freed African Americans. In the 1850’s this house was a station on the Underground Railroad. Here and in smaller buildings on the property, men and women escaping slavery found shelter in their way to freedom. Earlier, in 1777 this house was located within the battlefield of the Battle of Germantown between British and Continental soldiers.
7. Lemon Hill Mansion
West Sedgley & Lemon Hill Drives
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 232-4337
www.lemonhill.org
Adults: $5.00
Students: $3.00
Lemon Hill was built in 1800 atop "The Hills" formerly owned by merchant, entrepreneur and signer of the Declaration of Independence, Robert Morris. When Morris was sent to debtor's prison, his property was bought by Henry Pratt whose fortune stemmed from trade in china, textiles, gun powder, and real estate. Married three times and father to fifteen children, this important Philadelphian also kept "one of the best gardens in Pennsylvania." Named after some of the first lemon trees in America, Lemon Hill also holds a special place in the hearts of all Fairmount Park fans as it was the first property purchased by the City for the formation of Fairmount Park.
8. National Liberty Museum
321 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-2800
www.libertymuseum.org
Adults: $7.00
Students: $5.00
This “home for heroes” celebrates America’s ideals of freedom by honoring more than one-thousand outstanding individuals of all ethnic backgrounds. The museum houses eight galleries of exhibits, interactive displays, videos, artwork (including a twenty-foot glass “Flame of Liberty”), White House china display, and more.
9. Pennsylvania Hospital Historic Tours
800 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-829-3000
www.pennmedicine.org/pahosp/vi_files/historictours.html
General Admission: $4.00
Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital, was founded in 1751, 25 years before the American Revolution. A philosophy of caring inspired the founders, a group of public-spirited citizens led by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond. Today that same spirit guides Pennsylvania Hospital through its third century as it continues to be an innovator in patient care, treatment techniques, and medical research.
Today, patients are cared for in state-of-the-art facilities, but the heritage of the institution is not forgotten. Highlights of the tours include: the Gallery Pavilion, Great Court, Historic Library, Surgical Amphitheater, and the Physic Garden. Tours are included in the admission fee but must scheduled in advance.
10. Philadelphia Doll Museum
2253 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19132
(215) 787-0220
www.philadollmuseum.com
Adults: $4.00
Students: $3.00
Under the direction of Barbara Whiteman, the museum is the only known museum in the nation that emphasizes the collection and preservation of black dolls as artifacts of history and culture. The museum has more than 500 dolls in its collection, which chronicle the way people of color have been perceived throughout world history. The collection includes African, European, and American Folk Art dolls, the renowned Roberta Bell Doll Collection, as well as American and internationally manufactured dolls.
11. Philadelphia Museum of Art
26th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 763-8100
www.philamuseum.org
Perelman Building>
Adults: $8.00
Students: $6.00
First Sundays>
Pay what you wish admission to all buildings
The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) is among the largest art museums in the United States, showcasing more than two-thousand years of human creativity in masterpieces of painting, sculpture, works on paper, decorative arts, and architectural settings from Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The museum offers a wide variety of enriching activities including programs for children and families, lectures, concerts, and films.
While admission to the museum itself is regularly $16 for adults, on the first Sunday of every month the PMA offers a “pay what you wish” admission all day. Additionally, the Perelman Building (across the street from the main building, housing a separate collection of work) offers a lower-cost alternative as well as a “pay what you wish” admission of the first Sunday of every month.
12. American Philosophical Society Museum
104 South Fifth Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-440-3400
www.amphilsoc.org
General Admission: $1.00
The American Philosophical Society (APS) Museum is the only venue in Independence National Historical Park to host exhibitions exploring history, art, and science. When Benjamin Franklin and friends decided, in 1743, to establish the APS they studied nature and called themselves natural philosophers. Now we'd call them scientists. But the word "philosophical" stuck. Over the years the APS has gathered and preserved a rich collection that traces American history and science from the Founding Fathers to the computer age. It includes scientific specimens and instruments, patent models, portraits, maps, art works, rare books, and more than ten million manuscripts. The APS Museum combines sophisticated exhibitions of its treasures with provocative works by contemporary artists.
13. Please Touch Museum Target First Wednesdays
Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park
4231 Avenue of the Republic (formerly North Concourse Drive)
Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 581-3181
www.pleasetouchmuseum.org
General Admission between the hours of 5 – 7 p.m.: $2.00
The Please Touch Museum, the Children’s Museum of Philadelphia, is designed for families with young children and features six interactive exhibits, daily activities, and theater performances. Housed in the historic Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park, the museum also offers a family-friendly café and century’s old carousel.
While admission to the museum is generally $15, Target First Wednesdays (sponsored by Target, which strives to make museums accessible to the community) extends museum hours and offers a special $2 admission between the hours of 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
14. Rodin Museum
2525 Pennsylvania Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 763-8101
www.rodinmuseum.org
General Admission: $5.00
Home to the largest Rodin collection outside of Paris, this museum includes more than 100 sculptures and casts from the great artist, Auguste Rodin. Bronze casts of the artist’s works featured at the museum include: The Thinker, The Burghers of Calais, and the Gates of Hell. Admission price includes access to a guided tour through the museum.
15. Shofuso Japanese House and Garden
4700 States Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 878-5097
www.shofuso.com
Adults: $6.00
Students & Seniors: $3.00
This seventeenth-century authentic Shoin-style Japanese house & garden in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park was built in 1954 as a gift from Japanese people through the America-Japan society as a good-will gesture after World War II. It was originally sent to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and relocated to Philadelphia in 1958. Shofuso is the only house of its kind outside of Japan and is considered a major cultural asset to the city and an international tourist attraction.
16. The Fabric Workshop and Museum
1214 Arch Street Philadelphia
PA 19107-2800
(215) 568-1111
www.fabricworkshop.org
Adults: $3.00
Children (under 12): Free
The Fabric Workshop and Museum is the only non-profit arts organization in the U.S. creating new work in fabric and experimental materials in collaboration with emerging and internationally recognized artists.
Founded in 1977, the museum has developed from an ambitious experiment to a renowned institution with a widely-recognized Artist in Residence Program, an extensive permanent collection of new work created by artists at the Workshop, in-house and touring exhibitions, and comprehensive educational programming including lectures, tours, in-school presentations, and student apprenticeships.
17. The Masonic Temple
1 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107-2599
(215) 988-1917
www.pagrandlodge.org
Adults: $8.00
Students & Seniors: $6.00
Children (under 12): $5.00
This National Historic Landmark, which lists George Washington among its members, features guided tours through seven ornate lodge halls, each one representing a different architectural style including: Oriental, Egyptian, Gothic, Norman, Ionic, Renaissance, and Corinthian.
18. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-732-6200
www.hsp.org
Adults: $6.00
Students & Seniors: $3.00
Founded in 1824 in Philadelphia, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania is one of the oldest historical societies in the United States and holds many national treasures. The society's building, designed by Addison Hutton and listed on the City of Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and more than 19 million manuscript and graphic items.
PHILADELPHIA’S SURROUNDING AREAS
1. The American Helicopter Museum and Educational Center
1220 American Boulevard
West Chester, PA 19380
610-436-9600
www.helicoptermuseum.org
Adults - $7.00
Seniors - $6.00
Students - $5.00
Located forty-minutes outside of Center City, the museum is situated in West Chester, home to two of today's major helicopter manufacturers and where much of the earliest development of helicopters in the U.S took place. The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center is the nation's premier aviation museum devoted exclusively to helicopters and collecting, restoring, and displaying historic aircraft.
2. QVC Studio Tours
1200 Wilson Drive
West Chester, PA 19380
1.800.600.9900, extension 4
www.qvc.com
Adults: $7.50
Children (6-12 years old): $5.00
Children under 6: Free, however tours are not recommended for children under 6
Since opening in the fall of 1997, QVC Studio Park in West Chester, PA has become a popular destination for thousands of visitors interested in seeing live television at its best. The QVC Studio Tour is a one-of-a-kind guided walking tour through the fantastic world of electronic retailing. At this state-of-the-art broadcasting facility, guests will see and experience how QVC products are sourced, tested, brought to life on air, and delivered to millions of QVC customers. Please note, children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. All adult tour guests are asked to bring identification.
3. Pennsbury Manor- Mansions Along the Delaware
400 Pennsbury Memorial Rd.
Morrisville, PA 19067
215-946-0400
www.pennsburymanor.org
Adults: $7.00
Seniors: $6.00
Children (ages 3-11): $4.00
This manor is the re-creation of William Penn’s plantation set on the banks of the Delaware River with costumed guides, family events, and children’s programs. The site, located in Bucks County north of Philadelphia, provides a peaceful contrast to the hurry of modern American life. The construction of the original manor was an expression of Penn's belief that life in the country was more wholesome than in the worldly atmosphere of what he believed was “crowded cities”. Pennsbury Manor gives visitors a sense of the unhurried grace and charm of those years when Pennsylvania was William Penn's "Holy Experiment."
4. Chanticleer Garden
786 Church Rd.
Wayne, PA 19087
610-687-4163
www.changticleergarden.org
Adults: $5.00
Children (under the age of 16): Free
This 35-acre pleasure garden features lush courtyards of tropicals, perennials, and containers; colorful cut-flower and vegetable garden; exotic woodlands; ruin garden; as well as ponds and water gardens teeming with life. Originally a private estate developed by the head of a local the pharmaceutical company, Rosengarten, the grounds were turned into a public garden in 1993.
*TIP*
To stretch your dollar even further, keep in mind that along with these budget friendly attractions, Philadelphia also offers tax free shopping on all clothing and shoes! Visit www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel or www.TaxFreeShopping.com for more information
